Camp 13^th N.H. Vol^s

Chaffins Farm V^a.

Dec. 4^th 1864

 

Dearest Ari

                        I am ever, and ever, so much oblidged to you for writeing me such a rousing good and long letter as you did on the 26^th inst. I will try and answer it, but you must not expect such a good letter from me as you write. in the first place I will tell you all about things here. the weather is beautiful. this morning we had a Regimental inspection and our Colonel says that we are going to be reorganized. the Negro Soldiers that are in the 10^th Corps are to be put into the 18^th Corps, and we / are to be put into the 10^th Corps. then the 18^th Corps will be all negro. then the white troops of the 10^th and 18^th Corps will be put together and called the 24^th Corps. so you see we soon shall be in a new Corps. the Colonel also said that he wanted the boys to clean up their muskets good so we could get a good position. "cant fool your Uncle much," but I wont tell you whare I think thay will send us for I may get mistaken. Colonel Smith will look out for his brave boys. some folks at home may laugh because I call them Brave, thay may say they are brave because thay have to fight. ask them if "we" "I wont say we" for I am talking of the rest, not myself, thay were obliged to fight when we took the fort up to Petersburg when "we" thay / asked the Col. ever so many times if we should not charge on them and drive them or get killed in the attempt. I would just like to have them see us go into one good fight. I dont mean to say that we are anxious for a fight, oh no, but if occasion calls for us, I mean, I hope we shall never have to fight again as long as we are out here.

 

            There, Ari. I commenced this letter this morning and now it is evening and I have not finished it yet. the reason was we had orders to be ready to move at two oclock this after noon, so I did not have time to finish it for the mail to day, but we did not move. we are to move tomorrow morning at day-light. we are going up to the / right of the line about a mile I believe. I will let you know after we get there. I am sorry it happened so, for I was going to write you a good long letter and write to Charlotte, to. she says that she wrote two letters to me, but I dont remember of ever getting them, but still I may have got them. it must have been a long time ago. tell her that I will write after you go home. she will hear from me often enough now through you. Tell Mr. Ridlon to come out here and be our Chaplin. we have got one but he is to the rear, affraid of his fate I guess. dont blame him. I hope he wont get hurt, poor soul. he is in the Hospital preaching to the sick and wounded, so he says. /

 

Oh, no, Ari! Capt. dont read your letters, oh no. Ari: I cant do much at writeing to night. we are all packed up ready to move. Ari. dont you wish we were packed up to go home, but I need not ask, for I know you do. I would just like to have hold of you. would^nt I hug tight, hay what. well Ari. It wont be long now before I shall be at home. "as Ben says" we are like a woman in the family way. we will be comming along in about 9 months. then wont we have a good time, you and I and Elmer, hay, I reckon. I will make a little soger of Elmer. Oh! tell Elmer that Capt. says I had better send him a little Negro sister. Give my love to him. I wish I / could see him to night.

 

I must close for it is getting late. Give my regards to all the folks, my love to Father & Mother, Uncle Daniel, and Atwell.

 

When I say my love to you, I mean love for you and Elmer, are all that I realy know how to love, that is so Ari. I say as you do, when I get home I will let you know how I love you. well the drums are beeting tattoo, and I must close, Good night.

 

P.S. I sold one gill and a half of whiskey to night for one dollar and a half.

           

from your affectionate

Husband,

Serg^t S. B. Tarlton

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